Latest news with #TheTelegraph
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘We don't want another 9/11 attack' – warning that Israel's war on Gaza could provoke attack on US soil
The worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza risks undermining America's standing in the Middle East and radicalising would-be terrorists to target the US, a senior congressional aide told The Telegraph. 'Ending Hamas is beneficial to American national security, but at what cost? If we continue to see this humanitarian crisis exacerbate, that does further damage to America's standing globally,' the source said, warning that US support for Israel comes with the risk of American citizens becoming targets in revenge plots by Hamas and its allies. 'Ultimately, we don't want to see another 9/11.' The source added that, while Israel is 'fighting a valiant and fair and worthy fight' against Hamas, the tools that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and the IDF are using against the Palestinian territory risk provoking 'further escalation against the West'. The warning comes as international pressure is mounting on Israel to ensure humanitarian relief reaches the people of Gaza, amid reports from aid groups that thousands of children could die from starvation as the enclave teeters on the brink of famine. In a rare divergence from Mr Netanyahu, President Donald Trump acknowledged on Monday that there was 'real starvation' in Gaza, adding the US would set up aid centres. 'We have to get the kids fed,' he said. Responding to Israel's insistence that there is 'no starvation' and that such claims were being spread by Hamas, Mr Trump said: 'I see it, and you can't fake that,' although he stopped short of criticising Mr Netanyahu directly. Mr Trump was referring to images and television reports showing distressingly thin children inside Gaza. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Israel of genocide Vice-president JD Vance also struck a more direct tone towards Israel during a visit to Ohio on Monday, in which he called the images of starving children 'heartbreaking' and said it was 'up to the Israelis' to allow aid into the enclave. MAGA Republicans broke with the administration this week, urging Mr Trump to get tough with Israel. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a MAGA firebrand and Trump loyalist, became the first GOP lawmaker to accuse the Jewish state of carrying out 'genocide'. Ms Taylor Greene, who has previously accused Israel critics within Congress of 'sympathising with terrorists', compared the 'genocide, humanitarian crisis and starvation' in Gaza to the horrors of October 7. She was joined by Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, who told his War Room podcast that Israel has 'almost no support' among MAGA supporters under the age of 30, and accused Mr Netanyahu of trying to 'save himself politically by dragging America in deeper to another Middle East war'. A former Trump White House senior adviser said: 'Right now the Bannons and the Marjorie Taylor Greenes are at the very beginning stages of potentially gaining traction on this issue.' Unwavering support for Israel has long been a core tenet of Republican politics, but as the humanitarian crisis unfolds in Gaza, patience with Mr Netanyahu's government among lawmakers in Washington is beginning to wear thin.
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
We recommended this stock in 1964 and we're buying it again today
Questor is The Telegraph's stock-picking column, helping you decode the markets and offering insights on where to invest Investors are finally beginning to realise that the FTSE 100 is unjustifiably cheap. Its international focus amid a period of monetary policy easing across developed economies, plus several years of underperformance versus other major indexes, mean many of its members offer excellent value for money. In Questor's view, it is now only a matter of time before investors similarly realise that the FTSE 250 offers significant long-term growth potential. It has produced even more disappointing returns over recent years than the large-cap index, having risen just 30pc in the past five years versus a 55pc gain for the grossly underperforming FTSE 100 index over the same period. The mid-cap index's UK focus means it is set to be catalysed by the economic impact of the Bank of England's increasingly loose monetary policy, which leaves it well placed to move significantly beyond a record high that still stands 10pc above the index's current level. As a result, the Mercantile investment trust becomes the latest addition to our wealth preserver portfolio. The company aims to achieve long-term capital growth by focusing on UK small and mid-cap stocks, such as those listed in the FTSE 250, and has produced an annualised capital gain of 7.6pc over the past decade. This compares favourably with a 4.9pc capital gain for its benchmark, which is the FTSE All-Share index excluding the FTSE 100 and investment trusts. The company currently trades at an 8pc discount to net asset value (Nav). Although this is slightly narrower than the 10pc average discount recorded over the past year, it still suggests that investors can buy heavily discounted UK small and mid-cap stocks at a relatively attractive price. With a gearing ratio of 14pc, the company is well placed to capitalise on what this column believes will be a rising FTSE 250 index over the coming years. Certainly, relatively high leverage suggests that the company's share price is likely to be volatile, but given this column's long-term focus, sharp short-term fluctuations in market value are not viewed as a major cause for concern. Additionally, with the trust's largest holdings dominated by high quality companies such as food producer Cranswick, housebuilder Bellway and retailer Dunelm, its long-term prospects appear to be upbeat. The trust currently has noteworthy overweight exposure, compared with its benchmark, to the financials and consumer discretionary sectors. Given these are cyclical sectors whose performance is heavily influenced by the economy's prospects, this further suggests the company is positioned to benefit from an improving outlook for UK GDP growth amid a likely fall in inflation and further interest rate cuts. Alongside its capital growth potential, the trust offers income investing appeal. Although it currently yields a rather modest 3.1pc, which is 20 basis points lower than the FTSE 250's yield, its dividend growth rate is likely to be catalysed by increasingly buoyant operating conditions for its holdings. It also has an excellent track record of shareholder payouts, with dividends either maintained or increased in each of the past 33 years. While Mercantile has not featured in our wealth preserver portfolio until now, it has previously been tipped by Questor – in fact, it was recommended in our very first column. Since our more recent ''buy' recommendation in June 2023, it has produced a 24pc capital gain and outperformed the FTSE 250 index by nine percentage points. It has also risen by 6pc since being added to our income portfolio during August last year. To make way for the company in our wealth preserver portfolio, Currys, Admiral and RWS will now be removed. They have produced total returns of -6pc, 30pc and -75pc, respectively, since being added to the portfolio during June 2021. In Questor's view, using the capital raised from the removal of those three stocks to fund the notional purchase of Mercantile represents a logical long-term move. The trust's focus on UK small and mid-cap stocks means it should benefit from a period of sustained interest rate cuts that boosts earnings growth and prompts higher stock market valuations. Given the company trades at a sizable discount to Nav and has an excellent track record of benchmark outperformance, it offers a favourable risk/reward opportunity on a long-term view.
The Star
8 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
Toddler survives deadly encounter with cobra by biting its head off
A two-year-old boy survived what could have been a lethal encounter with a cobra in the most bizarre way: He bit its head off. News reports said Govinda Kumar was playing at his home in Bankatwa village in India's eastern state of Bihar on July 25 when a nearly one-metre-long cobra slithered close by. He mistook the venomous snake for a toy and tried to grab it, according to Times of India. The cobra coiled itself around the boy's hand. Startled, Govinda reacted by biting the snake's head clean off. 'He killed it on the spot,' the boy's grandmother Mateshwari Devi was quoted as saying. The boy then passed out and was rushed to a hospital. He was transferred to Government Medical College and Hospital Bettiah for specialist care, where doctors treated him for ingesting some of the snake's venom when he bit it. Dr Saurab Kumar, an associate professor at the hospital's paediatrics department, told The Telegraph that Govinda likely survived because the cobra's venom did not enter his bloodstream. The boy sank his teeth into the cobra but it was not able to bite him, he said. 'I received the child active and alert, but his mouth and face were swollen because of the reaction to the venom in the oral cavity,' said Dr Kumar. Cobra venom contains neurotoxins that can impair the nervous system and damage tissues and blood cells, with the severity of symptoms depending on the species. Govinda was discharged on July 26. According to 2023 data from the World Health Organisation, snakes bite some 5.4 million people globally each year, leading to as many as 137,880 deaths. The number of people left with amputations or permanent disabilities may be up to three times higher. India accounts for roughly half of all snake bite-related deaths, according to a report published by News Decoder earlier in 2025. The country has around 300 species of snakes, including 60 highly venomous species such as the Russell's vipers, kraits and saw-scaled vipers, which are responsible for most of the bite- related deaths. The Indian cobra completes this list of the 'big four' species responsible for the most snake bites in India. — The Straits Times/ANN
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Teacher who ‘stabbed parents on hiking trail' caught after five-day manhunt
A 28-year-old schoolteacher has been charged with the murder of a married couple stabbed to death in front of their children after a five-day manhunt. Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead on a walking trail at Devil's Den State Park, Arkansas on Saturday. They had been out hiking with their daughters, aged seven and nine, who alerted authorities that their parents had been attacked. The girls were not hurt, police said. Andrew James McGann was arrested at a barbershop in Springdale, some 30 miles from the park, after five days on the run. He was charged with two counts of capital murder and was being held without bond in the state's Washington County jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday. Police have declined to discuss a motive for the killings. 'If you commit a violent, senseless act here in our state, our law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice, because that's what the people of Arkansas frankly deserve,' Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the governor of Arkansas, told reporters. Mr McGann, a fourth-grade teacher, had recently been hired at Springdale Public Schools for the upcoming year, but had not yet started in his position or come into contact with any of its families or students, a school district spokesperson said in a statement. 'Our entire team extends our deepest condolences to the Brink family. Their children are especially in our thoughts and prayers,' Jared Cleveland, the district superintendent, said. The suspect had previously taught at a small Oklahoma school district until May, before resigning to take a job in another state, according to a Sand Springs Public Schools spokesperson. The statement added that Mr McGann had passed all background checks. The Brink family said the couple had died as 'heroes protecting their little girls.' 'Our entire state is grieving for the tragic loss and senseless and horrific crime that's taken place in this area,' a spokesperson for the family said. A lawyer for Mr McGann could not be reached. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Can you believe this? Zuckerberg offered $1 billion pay package to an AI researcher - what happened next was shocking
In a stunning revelation that reflects the escalating talent war in the artificial intelligence industry, Mira Murati, founder of Thinking Machines Lab , has disclosed that her entire 50-member team unanimously rejected lucrative job offers from Meta, including one jaw-dropping package worth $1 billion. The development throws light on the increasing lengths to which tech behemoths are willing to go in their pursuit of top AI minds. Meta's aggressive recruitment campaign As per a report by Wired, Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta has been on a relentless hunt to hire AI experts, targeting researchers at Murati's San Francisco-based AI start-up, Thinking Machines. The social media conglomerate, which recently consolidated its AI research efforts under Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), reportedly made offers ranging from $200 million to $1 billion, with substantial portions tied to stock options and multi-year vesting schedules, as per a report by The Telegraph. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category others Data Science Data Analytics Technology Design Thinking Digital Marketing healthcare Cybersecurity MBA Degree Management Healthcare PGDM Project Management Finance Others Product Management Operations Management Public Policy Artificial Intelligence Data Science CXO MCA Leadership Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT - ISB Cybersecurity for Leaders Program India Starts on undefined Get Details Mira Murati, former Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI and now among the most influential figures in the AI sector, confirmed that despite the extraordinary compensation, not a single member of her company accepted Meta's overtures. 'So far at Thinking Machines Lab, not a single person has taken the offer,' Murati told Wired, as mentioned in a report by The Telegraph. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Neuropathy is not from Low vitamin B. Meet the Real Enemy of Neuropathy (Stop Doing This) Health Insight Journal Learn More Undo Disputed figures and Meta's official stand While Murati's disclosure made headlines, Meta's spokesperson Andy Stone pushed back against the figures reported. In a statement to The Telegraph, Stone acknowledged that Meta had extended offers to a few individuals at Thinking Machines, including one 'sizeable' proposal. However, he maintained that the broader monetary claims were 'off' and questioned the motives behind the leak, stating, 'This all begs the question, who is spinning this narrative and why?' Despite the contention, industry observers note that Meta's ongoing hiring spree reflects its commitment to regaining AI dominance after internal frustration over slow progress. The company has made several high-profile poaching attempts in recent months, including personalized WhatsApp messages from Zuckerberg himself to leading researchers. Live Events Thinking Machines: No product, yet $12 billion valuation The allure of Thinking Machines Lab is evident in its rising valuation. Despite having no consumer-facing product yet, the startup recently secured $2 billion in new funding, pushing its valuation to $12 billion. Murati revealed that the company plans to unveil its first product within the next few months, with open-source components designed to foster collaboration within the AI community. This rapid valuation growth, coupled with an elite team, makes Thinking Machines a hotbed of talent, one that Meta and other rivals are eager to tap. However, Murati's announcement that none of her researchers were tempted by Meta's riches further cements the startup's internal cohesion and mission-oriented culture. Meta's high-stakes AI ambitions Meta's recent establishment of its Superintelligence Labs signals its intensified focus on long-term AI innovation. With Alexandr Wang, founder of Scale AI, and Nat Friedman, former GitHub CEO, now leading the lab, Zuckerberg has realigned Meta's AI strategy to accelerate development of advanced AI tools. This shift comes amid fierce competition from the likes of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and Apple. Notably, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also confirmed that his employees had received nine-figure offers from Meta in recent weeks. The unprecedented pay packages reflect the strategic importance of AI leadership for future growth and geopolitical influence, as per the report by The Telegraph. An ethical stance or strategic branding? While the news has captivated the tech world, questions persist about whether Murati's move is entirely altruistic or part of a broader brand positioning strategy. With the AI industry under scrutiny for its ethical practices and monopolistic ambitions, Murati's public refusal of excessive compensation could bolster her company's reputation as values-driven and independent. Still, it signals a turning point in the AI labor market, where not every researcher can be bought with billions. For now, Thinking Machines Lab remains immune to Meta's vast war chest, though the question remains: for how long? As the AI arms race continues to escalate, the saga between Meta and Thinking Machines may just be the opening chapter. With more funding rounds, product launches, and talent bids expected in the months ahead, the spotlight will remain firmly on leaders like Mira Murati and Mark Zuckerberg. FAQs What is Mira Murati's Thinking Machines Lab, and why is it in the spotlight? Thinking Machines Lab is a San Francisco-based AI startup founded by Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI. It recently made headlines after Murati revealed that her entire 50-member team rejected job offers from Meta, including a staggering $1 billion offer, highlighting the growing battle for AI talent. Did Meta really offer $1 billion to a Thinking Machines Lab researcher? According to Murati, one of her team members was offered a $1 billion compensation package by Meta. However, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone disputed the claim, saying the reported figures were exaggerated and questioned the motives behind the leak.
